I was wondering if anyone had ever used a fish tank air pump to aerate there wort. I was planning on getting a fish tank air pump, tubing, a HEPA filter and a fish tank stone to aerate my wort for an upcoming Imperial IPA. Anyone ever done this?

There are kits with exactly these components available. It's what I use.

Make certain you get a stainless steel 'stone' for ease of cleaning.

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i've got one and they work great. i leave mine in for a good 45 minutes, more with high gravity and they get plenty of o2. makes the yeastees all happy and active

when you leave it in so long.. do you put a cap or something on the carboy so it is not exposed to the elements? or do you not worry about it.. also.. do you move it around or just leave it in one place?

when you leave it in so long.. do you put a cap or something on the carboy so it is not exposed to the elements? or do you not worry about it.. also.. do you move it around or just leave it in one place?

As long as it is running, there will be serious positive pressure in the carboy - nothing is getting in there.

On the other hand...

Do you need a hepa filter? I have the pump, tubing and stones but no filter. I wasn't gonna bother but now am wondering...

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when you leave it in so long.. do you put a cap or something on the carboy so it is not exposed to the elements? or do you not worry about it.. also.. do you move it around or just leave it in one place?

i move it around a little, not really sure if that helps, tho. i cover it in saran wrap and sanitize everything (cept the hepa filter, of course, which can't get wet). works like a dream.

thats what I use! standard tank pump>hose>stainless stone (although I have used a regular tank stone many times with no problem) I have yet to do it filtered. I always mean to grab one but never do. FWIW I've never had an infection.

where do you get the stainless stone? I bought one of the regular stones but realized after I took it out of the package that it looked like a bunch of colored sand glued together. There were grains of sand falling of of it like crazy... no way I'm putting that in my beer